Various interest groups in Jos are reported to have disagreed sharply on need for National conference during their presentations at the zonal consultation meeting organised in Jos Plateau state, by the Presidential Advisory Committee.

In his presentation, a member of Arewa Elders Forum, Barrister Solomon Dalung, averred that his group was skeptical about the convocation of the National Conference, saying that the only way out of the political conundrum was for a Sovereign National Conference to be convoked as opposed to a mere National Conference. He said, “We in the Arewa Elders Forum believe in the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference with an agenda determined by the leadership of the SNC

Various interest groups in Jos are reported to have disagreed sharply on need for National conference during their presentations at the zonal consultation meeting organised in Jos Plateau state, by the Presidential Advisory Committee.

In his presentation, a member of Arewa Elders Forum, Barrister Solomon Dalung, averred that his group was skeptical about the convocation of the National Conference, saying that the only way out of the political conundrum was for a Sovereign National Conference to be convoked as opposed to a mere National Conference. He said, “We in the Arewa Elders Forum believe in the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference with an agenda determined by the leadership of the SNC.

The Jasawa Elders Foundation –a socio political group of Hausa/Fulani people disagreed with the proposition of the conference, saying that it was divisionary in its intent and that it was a sheer waste of time and resources. On the flip side however, representatives of the Hausa/Fulani community and the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), welcomed the need for a conference, saying that it would serve as an avenue for resolving many of the lingering issues. The Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), represented by its National Secretary, Sale Bayeri, said it supported the conference wholeheartedly, asserting that “If there is any community that needs national conference, it is our group because we have found ourselves as citizens without any protection by the government. We need the national conference as an avenue to ask question if we are truly Nigerians.”

Making his presentation, the President of the Jasawa Elders Forum, Eng. Mansur Nakande disagreed with presentations made by various ethnic groups calling for representation by ethnic nationalities, saying only what was stipulated within the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be adopted. Eng. Nakande’s presentation was in conflict with presentations by the Middle-belt forum who canvassed for the representation of every ethnic group in the country on an equal number basis.

Also in his presentation, Hon. Sani Mudi –a representative of the Hausa community stated that he was in support of any genuine dialogue that would thrash out critical political problems with the aim of reaching a solution. He said “We welcome the idea of the national conference as an avenue to sit down and discuss issues that are bothering us as a country; we also want the criteria to be proportionate representation based on population.”

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National Conference Consultation in Jos: Various Hausa/Fulani groups disagree on terms of conference